Big East basketball power rankings after uneasy first week for many teams

7. Villanova Wildcats (2-1)

It felt strange when Villanova scheduled three games during opening week given the new team Kyle Neptune put together and it came back to bite them.

After pulling away from Lafayette late in the second half on Monday, the Wildcats were severely outplayed two days later when losing to Columbia by 10 points. Neptune, who entered this season on the hot seat, had more heat on him than ever.

Villanova responded with a blowout over NJIT but now begins games against Big 5 opponents and other power conference teams.

Can they rattle off four or five games in a row to prove they have figured it out?

6. Providence Friars (2-0)

Providence is a very tough team to handicap at this point in the season because they have been severely impacted by injuries and are playing without its best player, Bryce Hopkins, as he continues to recover from his ACL tear.

Kim English's team was nearly upset by Central Connecticut State in the season opener before routing Stonehill. The Friars will have three more games to work out its troubles before it gets tested during the Battle 4 Atlantis.

If Hopkins returns and plays like an All-Big East player, Providence could be battling for a Top-4 seed in the Big East Tournament in March.